Kylie Minogue has disclosed that she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time in early 2021, following her successful treatment for breast cancer in 2005. The revelation comes in her new Netflix documentary, titled Kylie, which was released today.
In the documentary, the pop star said: “My second cancer diagnosis was in early 2021. I was able to keep that to myself … Not like the first time. Thankfully, I got through it. Again. And all is well.” She noted that after treatment, she struggled to find the right moment to share the news publicly, even after the success of her Grammy-winning 2023 single Padam Padam.
Minogue explained that she did not feel obliged to tell the world, adding: “I was just a shell of a person … I didn’t want to leave the house again at one point.” She said her 2023 song Story from the album Tension references that period, with lyrics such as “I had a secret that I kept to myself.”
The 57-year-old singer was first diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005, aged 36, which forced her to cancel her Showgirl tour and withdraw from Glastonbury. She underwent treatment in Melbourne and was given the all-clear. In 2008, she revealed she had initially been misdiagnosed.
Minogue returned to music with the 2007 album X and eventually headlined Glastonbury in 2019. She continues to enjoy success, including a Christmas No. 1 in 2025 with Xmas. The documentary, directed by Michael Harte, features interviews with her sister Dannii and former duet partners Jason Donovan and Nick Cave.
